Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure for issuing entry and residency permits (details supplied); the grounds under which they may be revoked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37707/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The policy regarding non-EEA religious or volunteer workers who wish to enter the State and work in that capacity is as follows.

If the person concerned is a visa required national he/she would have to set out full details in a visa application of their reason for seeking to come to Ireland. The visa, if granted, is pre-clearance to the person concerned to arrive at an approved port of entry and seek permission to enter. All foreign nationals must obtain permission to enter the State from an immigration officer at the approved port of entry. The person concerned must then register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and seek the appropriate permission to remain if he/she intends to remain in excess of 3 months.

Registration for religious and volunteer workers has in the past been renewed on a 12 months basis up to a maximum of 3 years. The time limit of 3 years, however, has not been strictly enforced in recent years. The particular immigration status (stamp 3) given to persons in these circumstances indicates that they are not entitled to participate in the labour market and that they are dependent on their employing church or organisation for their upkeep, finances and medical needs. In recent months a number of religious and volunteer workers were refused registration for immigration purposes as those persons were in excess of 3 years in the State. Their cases were referred to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for a decision as to whether to renew their permission to remain. These applications will be considered on a case by case basis.

While I have no proposals to amend the policy in this particular area at this time, it is intended more generally in the context of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008, to review various categories of immigration to the State and to produce revised regulations, schemes and guidelines, as appropriate. This may include the issue of religious workers and volunteers.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will assist a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 with a problem relating to their son; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37734/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Immigration Division of my Department that a decision was made in relation to the immigration status of the person referred to by the Deputy and he was informed of that decision in writing on the 28th October 2008.